IMPROVEMENT OF BARANGAY HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM

To establish a well-functioning barangay health emergency response system in Barangay Manguiles, Municipality of Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur, by the year 2020.

Specific Objective 1

To promote collaboration and active participation of the community

Activities

1. Conducted a Barangay Meeting and discuss the extent of the health problem and necessity to formulate achievable and sustainable solutions
2. Conducted Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with the BHWs and former BHERT members on identifying probable cause and solutions to the problem
3. Created a master list of the Barangay Health Team
4. Presentation of the CHP thru general assemblies and facilitation of open forum regarding the current situation
5. Re-organization of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team and renamed the core group as Barangay Emergency Alliance and Safe Transport (BEAST) team
6. Conducted Team Building of BEAST and Oath Taking Ceremony

Specific Objective 2

To increase the knowledge of Barangay Emergency Alliance and Safe Transport (BEAST) members on emergency response system and disaster

Activities

1. Conducted lecture/training of BEAST members on emergency response system and appropriate emergency care during emergencies and disaster with emphasis but not limited to:
   • Emergency Response System (EMS)
   • Triage
   • Lifting and Moving
   • Basic Life Support (BLS)
   • First Aid

Specific Objective 3

To increase community knowledge on appropriate emergency response, disaster preparedness and home management towards emergency cases

Activities

1. Identification and spot-mapping of hazardous areas in the Barangay Manguiles
2. Distributed tarpaulins about emergency referral pathway on the 5 puroks

Specific Objective 4

To promote preparedness for disaster and emergency

Activities

1. Created an inventory of existing and functioning medical equipment

Specific Objective 5

To ensure sustainability of Barangay Emergency Alliance and Safe Transport (BEAST)

Activities

1. Identification of BEAST members who shall be responsible focal persons for emergency response and transport of patients
2. Provision of logbook for record tracking of emergency cases and transport

17 out of the 24 members of BEAST members attended the lecture and training, reaching the target of 70% of the BEAST members. In left figure, results of the participants are shown. During the pre-intervention assessment, 100% failed the exam in terms of knowledge, but there was a notbale increase of their mean scores from 9.41 to 15.88, with only 4 out of 17 who failed the exam during the post-evaluation period.

The results in the right figure are divided into two categories: First Aid and Basic Life Support. In the first category, 88% (15 out of 17) passed the return demonstration, while in the second category, 82% (14 out of 17) passed. Results showed a significant increase on the participants’ knowledge and skills after the training.

It is important to have a emergency team on stand by but it is even more important to make sure that the community is also emergency and disaster prepared. Various activities were initiated to comply this. Identification of dangerous spots or hazardous areas in the barangay such as places prone for flooding and landslide were determined. The distribution of tarpaulins among the five (5) puroks regarding emergency referral pathway (see Appendix G.6.) was also done. Lectures and seminars were meant to be held but was unfortunately not seen through.

To address the issue of unavailability of first aid kits, the procurement of the medical supplies was also discussed during a barangay session, which was then agreed upon by the Barangay Council. But the budget proposal plan for the allocation of materials and equipment was not passed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

As such, the group did not reach the general objective to establish a well-functioning barangay health emergency response system due to a lot of limitation factors such as time, resources, and COVID-19 pandemic. The health plan was still in its early phase due to the constant change of focus over the years. Hence, majority of the actities were not implemented. This and the unforeseen circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the full implementation of the CHP.